Advent: Peace (2)

All right. Why do you have to take? Christmas is definitely my favorite time of the year. It's always a time for me that. I don't know, just gets my heart going. When it comes to friends and family and in the idea of being around people that I love quite often throughout this month. But over Thanksgiving one of my projects that I had was building a dog kennel in our barn because our dogs are driving us. Nuts are dogs are currently sleeping down in our sunroom off the basement. It's right underneath our bedroom and every morning about 5:30. They are barking like crazy at something. We all have a great Pyrenees who was apparently a nocturnal dog. I wish I would have read that before we agreed to get him but he likes the park at just about anything. So when we talk about peace, we're not getting much peace when it comes to him at night, but we finally finished it. And last night. I went into her barn and I had the lights on and I turn those lights off. And it was really, really dark in there. And immediately, one of my dog's just started to whimper a little bit like, I'll come on.

So I also like decorating for Christmas, so I thought I'll give him some Christmas lights. Maybe that'll bring him some. Peace. So I strung piece of Lights along the top of the new pin. And as soon as that light was on all four of them. I have four dogs, just went and laid down and just and for me, I can look at that Mike. I've never seen all four of these dogs do that ever. So I just kind of sat there and watched it and I thought about that must be really nice to be able to have just that peace and calm in your life. Peace. Feels like a very unfamiliar reality right now, especially in our world with everything is going on. But I imagine that feeling of peace is something that is very hard to come by me. If you've done any type of History you you'll see that piece. Rarely happens in our history. Actually. I think that there's only been a period of like 200 some years during the Roman peace era, where there was never a war going on during that time. There have been over 8,000 peach trees. All of them have been broken. So what are we do? Why is it so hard for us to be at peace? We are divided so much our beliefs and then decisions that it could be almost impossible to find that sense of peace. Peace is also closely related to being patient. And if you know me at all. My patience is me. Having patience is not one of my virtues at all. Okay, I don't know what it is. Some sometimes I can't stand it. When people tell me to be patient, not because they're wrong, but because of the internal conflict that will definitely, and soon my heart and therefore, will not be a piece and I'm a goer. I don't like to sit still. If you ask Cynthia, usually people call the church for me. She's like, he's not in his office cuz he's on the move. For me to sit down. I get really anxious. I'm just like, okay. What else can I be doing? But how old do I translate that to being at? Peace? Parents are constantly telling their kids to be patient most because if they are asked one of us more times and that we will lose our minds. We're consoling thing. Stop doing that. Be patient. Sit still. Leaving us as parents and adults, it's hard for us to do that as well. We made made up songs for kids to help them, learn to be patient and have peace. Because of my mind, all the time is when my wife is sitting in the car and she likes to, I don't know if she made the song she heard somewhere but it is embedded in my brain. Because if you do my children, there is no sense of being at peace or patient when it comes to them, but the song Go-Go's be patient. Be patient. Don't be in such a hurry. I cannot stand that song.

Because it's song all the time. But my kids have already used that song against to me. So I guess it needs to be in bed, just a little bit more. When we try to sue the baby, that is crying. We try to, because as peaceful as possible, so that they have a sense of Peace as well. Funny how our natural instinct is to pick up a crying baby in, rock them. Yet when God tries to pick us up, sometimes we pushed back because we don't understand that. He is there to bring us. Peace. Also, if you guys know that I'm a kibbutz life director for Belmont. And for the, since July, I have been working on fundraising for my position. It is the worst part about my job is horrible because you are literally going to ask strangers to give you money to run a program. It is. Tedious. And there's about a month there where I went, where I didn't have a single person. Commit to being part of a Ministry. My mind was not at peace. I was not patient. Then another thing happened, where it just got me down. Like, this is ridiculous. God. I'm I'm discouraged. I'm not at peace. I can't be patient anymore.

Then God said, go here. But God, they already sending money like a month ago. Why you sending me here again? Go there. So I went reluctantly, of course, in the back of my mind and I'm not being patient. I'm not listening. I'm not happy. This is ridiculous. It's a waste of time. So I go, but I went with the intention of I'm just going to introduce myself to the person that sent in the check. As I walk in the door, I run into the owner. How are things going through my brain? No, peace, and no patience.

Okay, guy, okay. When introduce myself to the lady, to send the check told her, my story told her about the mission that was going on about Belmont. And she was very thankful for me to come in and do some myself. So I made that ask the guy told me to ask and she said, well, I can't do anything about that. I actually have to bring that to my superiors. I can't make that call.

In my mind, I did what God told me to do. It didn't want to do it, but I did it. Right? Before I turned around to leave a voice comes from another office. That says, I can make that call. It sure enough outcomes, the HR and also vice-president, the company, the owner's daughter comes out and says, how much do you need? I told her, but the story, she's completely on board and she said they decided to give monthly to the mission. As I got back out to my car. I was humbled. I told God I get it. I got to be patient. I got to have peace in my heart. God's got this. It is really hard for me to learn that. And yet, it's one of the Pinnacle reasons of what it is to being a Christian is to have peace in your heart and have the Peace of Christ. That is within you. So what is the nature of peace? Peace is a quiet conscience. So, in Romans chapter 8 verses 33 to 35, it says who shall bring any charge against God, God's elect. It is God, who justifies who is to condemn Christ? Jesus is the one who died, more than that, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God who indeed is interesting for us? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ, shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine or nakedness or danger or the sword?

With Paul's writing his words. He's basically asking. Why are we allowing? Are peace to be shaken by the things of this world?

Nothing in this world can separate us from God based on what he has done for us. So, why are we not at peace?

He asked us three different thinks it's God. Who justifies? Why are we condemn it? It's God, who intercedes for us. Who shall separate us from his love?

For some reason, even though we have these words, we have this promise. We still can't be a peeps. We still allow these things in our life. To relieve suppress that peace in our hearts. There's peace in a restful mind. Now, if you ask Pastor Dave. I do not have a restful night. Not in the slightest. My brain goes all the time. Usually, it's going about 1 in the morning. I usually don't fall asleep till about 1 or 1:30 in the morning. Now. I don't know if that's for being in the military. I don't know if that's from having four children and not being a very heavy sleeper. But for some reason, I am constantly thinking about something that a lot of times it's worried. It's probably a piece issue 2. But my mind is not shut off. I want to fix things. I'm thinking about how to do things differently. I think about how in the world am I going to get for kid to four different things? In the next day? I worry about the dogs. Just get out out of my newly-formed, pain, that probably isn't the best bait. I struggle. How do I have a restful mind when it comes to scriptures? Now this passage is probably most familiar. All of you is Philippians 4:7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I love the scripture because it's God's peace. That is given to us. It's not a wrong. And not only that. He guards our heart. But we have to allow him to do that. That's what they told me all the time. Just slow down calm yourself. Things will work out. He's been really good at that. That's why he's probably the best supervisor ever had. Now, I know I'm bragging a little bit here. He's up there, scratching his head but

But having that restful mine is, is something that is probably one of the most difficult things to achieve. Because as a sitter, we are constantly thinking and worrying about other things.

Here's another big one. Piece of a surrendered will. Now. The idea of surrendering is a is hard for us to handle because we believe that surrendering to anything is admitting defeat. I have a couple images to show you guys.

Winston Churchill, We Will Never Surrender. Kind of the idea that we most often have especially in our country. If you're in, if you've ever been the military knows I'm in the military. They probably said this this in The Soldier's Creed. We Will Never Surrender. When does the next image?

I'd rather die on my feet than live on my knees. That's also slogan that I hear all the time. So, is this is the mentality that we have? How much harder is it for us to be on our knees when it comes to Jesus? When we surrender to Christ, we are admitting that then has defeated us and we need to be saved. But why is that such a hard thing for us to do? It means living a life of devotion. That should be easy. Right? We have people who are devoted to a lot of things. I think the idea of a surrendered will means that at the level of our flesh. We put to death our old selves and that is not an easy task. North something that we desire completely. This makes this aspect of Peace. Very difficult to achieve. We don't want to surrender. We don't want to be on our nice. We have pride. We we try to achieve so much in our life that to say, I want to give my life to Jesus. I think that mentality is that, I'll give my heart. But while I'm here, there's these other things that I want to accomplish to. And trust me we've all been there. I'm I've been there where we reach certain goals. And we start to get that praise. We start to get the admiration and it feels good.

but when we talked about a surrendered life to Jesus,

how many of us have really felt that true piece of a surrendered will Piece of a hopeful heart. Isaiah 58 verse 7 says, but the Lord God helps me. Therefore. I have not been disgraced. Therefore. I have set my face like a flint. And I know that I shall not be put to shame.

Asia live through some turbulent times and it's believed that he prophesied for 64 years. To set your face like a flint is to make it like a stone. He was able to withstand a lifetime of evils, trying to turn away from God. Throughout the Old Testament. We see those who have have had to wait and seek peace to receive the blessing that God has promised. When we think about the actual time, that was spent. Asking God to come save them, asking God for things in their lives. Music lights were slaves for 400 years.

Do you think that they started to lose hope? When there was no response. How did they receive peace? When? They probably died, not seeing the Salvation, their Deliverance out of Egypt.

Isaac had to wait 40 years to have his children.

How long have we had to wait for that piece? Or maybe is it because we haven't experienced peace first. Before receiving the blessing.

We are so impatient today that we forget to seek peace within a heart before we consider what our desires truly are. I think when we pray and we want to pray for certain things. I think we need to stop and ask ourselves. Are we truly at peace? Before we truly evaluate our desires.

The number 5 piece of loving Fellowship. Isaiah fifty two verse 7, says how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those, who bring good news, who Proclaim peace, who bring Good Tidings, who Proclaim salvation, who say to Zion your god reigns.

I want us to be this. I want us to be that beautiful mountain. I wanted to be our feet who are the ones, who are bringing the good news, who are proclaiming peace, who bring Good Tidings, proclaiming salvation.

I want you to ask yourselves are your feet on this mountain? Are you the ones going out? And proclaiming this good news.

Do you have peace within you? Because I think it's the most difficult thing for a Christian to do is to Proclaim. Peace. When the piece inside your own heart, the little out of whack.

This season. I really encourage all of you guys. In your prayer time. To pray for. Peace in your heart. To allow God to work through. You to bring that loving fellowship with him. Cuz we, as we all know, we're there yet time work. We're having a lot of family that are coming together and I'm sure many of you have family members that do not know Christ that do not have that salvation. How are we going to bring that good news to them?

It is. My desire has been my desire. My entire life form for several my family members. To know this piece to know that good news. And I know that good news has been shared with them. But sometimes I question if the peace in the hearts of those who shared it with them. Was really the peace that they need it.

We're also going to look at the source of our peace. The Romans 5:1, we look at peace with God. Therefore, since we have been justified by faith. We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. That's an amazing thing. What Jesus came and did in this life and his life as a man gave us justification to be able to accept that gift to have peace and knowing that we will be with him forever.

I'm not up here preaching, Hellfire and brimstone, but I had a conversation with another youth Lee this week. Where he believes in?

Oh, I just lost my keys to my work. Here. He believes in annihilation. Doctrine, which is if you do not believe in Jesus and you die, you just cease to exist.

Well, I'm sorry to tell you. God, created us eternal.

We do not go away. That's what makes us special. We were created in the image of God.

That peace with God is extremely important, that justification by faith. We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. There's a reason why the good news of Jesus is so important. In today's. History. If you do not know who Jesus is, if you do not have that piece. If you do not have that faith, that justification.

You do not want to know what the ladder is.

And I'm hoping that each and every one of you has that piece of knowing. Where you are when it comes to your relationship with Jesus?

He is also the God of Peace. Romans. 15:33 says may the god of peace be with you all. Amen.

It's a very interesting verse. Now, some people say you, what you need to go back and give the context. And I'd say not really. May the god of peace be with you all. Jesus gift is not just for those that he chooses.

That gift of peace is for all, who want to accept it.

Paul knew that because Paul experienced the ability to receive God's peace, even though he was the chief of sinners,

In all of Paul's riding. You see, kind of that backs backside of Anguish as he's writing. Knowing that do not be like me.

He dealt with a lot of things from his past. But he was still able to share and say that the God of Peace has accepted him as well. There's also the peace of God and we got to go back to Philippians 4:7.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. I wanted to come back to that because it's the peace of God in that statement. That surpasses all understanding.

Now, sometimes you would say, I want to understand. If God, was that easy to understand, he wouldn't be God.

And that's the amazing part about it is he's always a mystery. And that's why he says to stay in his word because there's never a point in your life where you're going to learn everything that you need to know.

Now, if I would Halle up, how much I've read the Bible or how many times, I read through it. I know at least that I've read through the Bible four times. Three times because I had to for school or for ordination.

Every time I read the Bible, God tells me something new. Because it does work. When we read through the scriptures, he is bringing peace and understanding to us. Because it surpasses all understanding.

If you don't feel that, pray for it. We are reading your Bible, ask God to bring peace to your heart, and then to speak to you through his word. I think you'll be shocked to see what God opens your heart to. He is also the Lord of peace. 2nd Thessalonians, 3:16 Says, now may the Lord of Peace himself. Give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.

There is so much in that one verse.

That brings me so much joy in knowing that no matter what is going on in my life. No matter what is going on in our world. There is no situation ever.

That God will not bring us. Peace.

We see it throughout scriptures. Paul was in prison. Both of the disciples were martyred. I guarantee you each and every one of them were at peace with what was going on.

Jesus, never promised.

It'll be easy. Are you can be at peace with something? That's not easy. Especially when you know, it's your purpose. Ask any missionary? Trust me. Your job is not easy. Sometimes it's not peaceful. Sometimes they are in the depths of evil and War and in death, to a point where there.

They're right in the middle of Darkness. Yet in every way the peace of God is with him.

I'm finally. One of the greatest things I've been part of a reading today. Jesus is our Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 for to us. A child is born. To us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulders. And his name Shall be Called wonderful, counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting father, Prince of Peace.

I got this is from the Old Testament. This is before. Christ, coming to Earth.

What you want, the child is born. And I love these titles, that is given to him wonderful counselor.

I don't know how many times I have seek counsel from people that I loved in my life and received the Council of Jesus from them. By the way, you see the wonderful counselor just in our personal time with him. But he works through people our lives to share that wisdom. He is a mighty God. That's that one's pretty self-explanatory. Everlasting father. He is always been. There is nowhere that he cannot go.

And then to finally finish with Prince of Peace.

He's the chief of peace. All peace. Perfect. Peace comes through him.

I want that piece for my life. And the only way to find it is to seek Jesus fully.

That's my challenge. How are you going to seek? Jesus fully dream is Advent season. And for the rest of this year. And the reason why I don't stay for the rest of your life is because when we throw the rest of your life up there. He gets pretty big. I think it's already assumed. But I'm a Believer and small goals. Trust me. I've had to make sure my wife to set small goals because I tried to set big ones and I get overwhelmed. Set those small goals. Set a goal for a day, a week, a month.

Are you in prayer? Are you at peace with God? When you are speaking to him when you are reading your scriptures? Are you at peace? When you think about family coming over? I'm not.

I have prayed for peace with my family for 25 years.

And I'm still praying.

It's something that.

I can't stop praying about. Because maybe it's me. Maybe it's them. But God's timing is perfect.

We always must be seeking that piece.

Like to close with a story. It's from Tim Hansel. It says, in my late twenties, a bunch of my friends and I decided to sail around the world. I have to admit though, at the time. I was a bit worried. I hadn't even sailed before I was uneasy and anxious. So, I spent a lot of time reading the Bible and praying about it until it. Dawned on me that God was whispering Tim. I'll give you peace, if you read some books on sailing. The reason you're anxious is not due to lack of prayer, but to your lack of sailing knowledge. I wasn't unfair Full House on skilled. So I took a step. I needed. Take to let God. Work is peace in my heart. And he began to read about sailing.

In everything that you do in your life, whenever your profession is, whatever your talent is, whatever your gifting is. if there's something in your life that you feel like you're not good at, Maybe it's talking to strangers. Maybe it's leading a Bible study. Maybe it's being a greeter at the door.

Seek counsel.

He is a wonderful counselor. You're the Mighty God. And says that in all things. He will be with you. At all times in every way. Amen.

Father, you are so good.

Bored, I think for each and everyone of us. There is an aspect of our heart that feels that we are not at peace.

Laura. I don't think that there ever really, is a time of true peace in our hearts because we are constantly at odds with our sin.

And Lord of simple life is literally the opposite of peace with you.

Lord, you are good to us. You show us Grace, you show us mercy and you show us forgiveness. You have paid the price for that sin in our life.

Lord, we must surrender to you.

Peace. It's something that we are always searching for. Lord help us defeat you in the right places. Lead and guide our hearts. Give us the strength to open up. To go down on a knee and bow before you.

Florida snot out of tyranny that you asked us to Neely. It's out of love and obedience and faith in you.

Word for this season. I pray that you bring peace to these families, to their friends, to our world, to our country.

Or there's so much turmoil. There's so much hate. There's so much evil. But you'll or bring the ultimate. Peace. Help us as a church. To just bring a sliver of that piece that you have promised to us to our communities into our families.

Where we love you? We, thank you and praise you. For the wonderful Mighty counselor you are.

The prettiest things in your precious son's name, Jesus and all God's people said, amen.

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